Safe and vault member and construction



H. L. COLES SAFE AND VAUL'I.' lMEMBER AND CONSTRUCTION July 2'1, 1931.

Filed April 2'4. 1930 f INVENTOR H2/fry l. (Mes HENRY L. GOLES,

ParenteelA July 21, 1931 UNITED s'ra'nss PATENT OFFICE OF HAMILTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO GUARDIAN METALS COMPANY, OF

HAMILTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SAFE AND VAULT MEMBER AND CONSTRUCTION Application filed April 24, 1930. Serial No. 446,817.

This invention relates to improvements in composite structural units, and more particularly to improved torch, and drill resistant safe and vault members or plates.

Heretofore, it has been proposed to use plates for safes and vault constructions and the like, including drill -and abrasion resistant core or sheath members of high melting point metals, such as tungsten, molybdenum, uranium, vanadium and the like in combination with each other and with their respective carbides. These materials are structurally eiiicient, but due to the high cost -of materials and the high manufacturing cost it has not been possible to bring them into extended use. Such members were usually associated with a sheath or core of a highly conductive, relatively soft metal, such as copper and its alloys. The composite members so formed afforded complete resistance from attack by an acetylene torch or ordinary burglar tools, but due to the high cost of {reparation they have not been generally use f i It is an object of this invention to provide an improved torch, and drill resistant structural'member of ferrous base materials, and in particular the invention provides an improved ferrous base composite plate for safe and vault constructions.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved and novel core members or inserts for burglar-proof plate-constructions.-

Yet another Vobject of the invention vis the rovision of an improved method of formlng burglar-proof safe and vault members.

These and other desirable obiects and advantages of the present invention will be described in the accompanying specification and illustrated in the drawings, certain preferred embodiments being shown by way of illustration only, for, since the underlying principles may be incorporated in other specific structures, it is not intended to be limited to the ones here shown, except as such limitations are clearly imposed by the appended claims. l,

In the drawings, like numerals refer to in which Fig. 1 is a. horizontal section of. an improved composite plate, in a mold;

Fig. 2 is a detail, partly in elevation and partly in section of a core member;

Fi 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 an ,Figa 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing an alternative form of slat arrangement.

In the practice of the present invention a core or slat member 1,0 is prepared from an improved ferrous alloy of the type set forth and claimed in my application Serial No. 438,232, and comprising 13-20% manganese, 3-18% chromium, 241% carbon, the remainder being substantially iron. Desirable results may be obtained with compositions including 15-18% manganese, 7-15% chromium, 2.245% carbon and the remainder iron. These slat members are cast up in the usual manner, and are provided with inserts 11, comprising a mesh of malleable iron rods or wire of any suitable dimensions, depending upon the size of the structure. Such reinforced members have a high degree of'resistance to torches, as well as to mechanical cutting tools, such as drills and the like, and are markedly abrasion resistant.

The alloys used are characterized by a scratch hardness of the order of 7.5-9 on Mobs scale, and, due to the high percentage of iron, are distinctly cheaper than similar tungsten base constructions, without the sacriiice of any mechanical or structural etliciency.

The members 10 are cast in the usual manner and may be prepared in'gangs, as 1nd1- cated in Figs. 1 and 3. In th1s tfype of construction, I secure improved results by casting the members en bloc, suitable connecting lugs or studs, 12, being formed between the members, and being adapted to subserve the common functions of spacing members and connectors between` slab sections. These members are preferably spaced about 6 apart, although it will be understood that any 9 thus preventing any direct apertures, from one side to the other. These members are set in position in a suitable mould 14 and spaced apart a suitable distance, and a sheath 15 of heat resistant metal cast therearound.

ln the case of a cast metal. sheath, it is preferred to coat the core members with a nitrogen producing composition, as more fully set forth and claimed in my Patent No. 1,755,913, issued April 22, 1930. The use of this process permits the securing of integrally bondedl composite members.

If desired, the composite plates may be lightened, without sacrifice of any useful function, by providing centrally disposed air chambers 16 in the body of the sheath material, 15. These chambers prevent the formation of pockets in the metal in case an oxygen lance or other like instrument is used, and thus precludes the burning through of the structure. i

While the pockets have been shown as centrally disposed in the composite plate, it will be understood that they may be arranged in any desired manner. lIt is also to be understood that the members 10 may be formed or disposed at any desired angle with respect to the surface of the plate members.

As shown in Fig. 4 the invention comprehends the assembling of the slat structures at any desired angle to each other, and, in this figure two such sets are shown juxtaposed, but atv substantially right' angles to each other. This t pe of construction is particularly suitable gbr use in safe and vault members which are substantially squaresded.

lVhile there has been disclosed a sheath of n ietal around the core members, it will, of course, be appreciated that eliicient results, for certain constructions, may be obtained by setting up the core members in situ and casting concrete or other plastic embedments therearound. These embedments may be of any desiredthickness and of any suitable compositions, such as concrete or cement, which may contain drill, abrasion and torch resistant materials, such as carbides of such materials as zirconium, vanadium, chromium, and the like.

The composite structures above described may be made in the manner indicated and assembled at any desired point, or they may be included in safe andivault constructions or other types of building constructions in which it is desired to incorporate the Aimproved physical and mechanical properties of such members.

It will now be appreciated that there has been provided an improved composite plate and process of making the same, the novel structures being susceptible of many and varied uses, and more particularl adapted for use in safes and vault constructions where .to 4% carbon and the balance iron.

2. A safe and vault member comprising a cast metal matrix of high heat conductivity in which is embedded a plurality of slabs of metallic material in substantial parallelism, and as so arranged present a continuous surf face, said slabs being tool-resistant and being made up of a composition consisting `of 13 to 20% manganese, 13 to 18% chromium, 2 to 4% carbon and the balance iron.

HENRY L. GOLES. 

